Structural toilet accessory support system

ABSTRACT

A structural toilet accessory support system used in bathrooms provides comfort, support and stability to the user when sitting down or standing up from a toilet. The invention responds to the need for a suitable support for the arms and back of anyone using a toilet. The system is suitable for use with toilets and seats already commercially available and adds aesthetics to the surrounding environment. The invention is available in various colors so that it can blend with the environment. For example, the invention can be made with silver plating, chromium plating, brushed steel or lacquer of different colors. In addition, the invention can be easily removed or transported.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of the priority filing date of PCT/ES2006/000281 referenced in WIPO Publication WO 2007/012678 A1. The earliest priority date claimed is Jul. 25, 2005.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL

Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a structural toilet accessory support system that is used in bathrooms in order to provide comfort, support and stability to the users sitting down or standing up from a toilet. The invention was developed in response to the need for a suitable support to the arms and back of anyone using a toilet. The inventive system is suitable for use with toilets and seats already commercially available. In addition, the invention can be easily removed or transported.

SUMMARY

A structural toilet accessory support system that is used in bathrooms in order to provide comfort, support and stability to persons using a toilet, in particular for assisting a person in standing up and sitting down and for providing back support while seated.

The invention was developed in response to the need for a suitable support to the arms and back of anyone using a toilet. The inventive system is suitable for use with toilets and seats already commercially available. In addition, the invention can be easily removed or transported.

FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the present invention that also shows the toilet.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the present invention that also shows the toilet.

FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic top view of the present invention that also shows the toilet.

FIGS. 7 to 12 are the same views showed in the FIGS. 1 to 6 but related to another embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 13 to 15 are a schematic top view, a front view and a perspective view of chocks that can be used with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION

A structural toilet accessory support system that is used to provide support, comfort and stability to a person using a toilet, making it easier to sit down and stand up, and to position oneself, while using the toilet.

The inventive concept is a result of the need to offer adequate support to persons using a toilet in general, and is not limited to the aged or disabled. Current toilet support systems in the United States are specially designed for the handicapped and are present in handicapped bathroom stalls, wherein a metal bar is installed in the wall. They are not mobile, and they are not used directly with the toilet. They do not provide back support, and there is only one bar on one side of the bathroom wall.

The invention consists of three pipes of metal, acrylic or any other material (FIGS. 1:A, B and G; 3:A and B; 5:A and D) that may have a tubular, cubic, or flat cross section, bended and connected by unions in front points (FIG. 1:C);

A back seat (FIG. 1:E) to avoid contact between the raised toilet lid and the rear metallic or acrylic portion of the support structure, as well as to provide back support for the user while the toilet lid is elevated. This back seat can be lined with natural leather, synthetic leather or fabric.

Structural reinforcements consisting of horizontal bars (FIGS. 5:B and C, FIG. 3:C) perpendicular to the pipes that form the rear feet (FIG. 3:B, 7:B, 9:B), and positioned in the front and the rear, having a tubular, cubic or flat shape.

Structural reinforcement plates (FIG. 3:D) at the connections between the front feet pipes and the rear feet pipes.

A height adjusting system for the structure comprised of screws fixed in the four feet of the structure (FIG. 1:F).

The structure can be fixed to the ground with suction cups (FIG. 1:D).

The present invention can be used with any commercially available toilet and toilet seat, and has aesthetic functionality.

The invention can be easily disassembled by uncoupling the sections of the supporting arms (FIG. 4:A) and by removing the screws, thereby reducing the size of the structure for transport. The invention can also be presented without the back seat (FIG. 1:E).

The invention can easily be removed and transported.

The invention is available in various colors and can be matched with its environment.

Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a rectangular plate with two holes attached to the rear horizontal bar for providing coupling between the toilet seat, the toilet and the structural support toilet system (FIG. 5:C). If needed it's possible to adopt chocks (FIGS. 13, 14 and 15) to adjust the level of the seat in the set.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a structure formed by two pipes of metal, acrylic or any other material (FIGS. 7:A and B; 9:A and B; 11:A and B) that may have a tubular, cubic or flat cross section, bended and connected by unions in front points (FIG. 7:C). In this case, the pipe that forms the rear feet of the structure has its frontal portion flattened to allow leveling of the toilet seat (FIG. 8). 

1. A structural toilet accessory support system comprising: a. a self-sustaining tubular structure formed by three pipes joined together that engages the sides and rear portion of a toilet bowl by being fixed to or positioned near the toilet bowl and support to the arms and back of a user; and b. a back seat member that supports the toilet bowl lid when the lid is raised, as well as providing a visual integration of the support with the toilet bowl.
 2. The structural toilet accessory support system of claim 1, wherein the structure is fixed to the ground with suction cups.
 3. The structural toilet accessory support system of claim 1, wherein the back seat member is fixed to the rear support bar, and positioned with an inclination that allows the toilet lid to rest on it while maintaining a comfortable position for the user.
 4. The structural toilet accessory support system of claim 1, further comprising a height adjusting system comprising screws fixed in the four feet of the same.
 5. The structural toilet accessory support system of claim 1, comprising a disassembly system involving the uncoupling of the sections in the level of the supporting arms and the removal of the screws.
 6. The structural toilet accessory support system of claim 1, wherein the components are welded together.
 7. The structural toilet accessory support system of claim 1, wherein an alternate embodiment comprises a rectangular plate attached to the rear horizontal bar with two holes to provide a coupling between the toilet seat, the toilet bowl and the structural support toilet system.
 8. The structural toilet accessory support system of claim 7, wherein chocks adjust the level of the seat if needed.
 9. The structural toilet support accessory system of claim 1, comprising an alternate embodiment formed by only two pipes, wherein the pipe that forms the rear feet of the structure presents a flattened front portion to allow the leveling of the seat. 